Cape Spear: Monday Sept. 14th 20:45 ATLANTIC TIME

Kapitan Kahlebnikov left St. John's on schedule at 10 am this morning and proceeded south in calm, rolling seas to Blackhead Bay where all communication,launch and recovery procedures were tested and rehearsed in calm water.

The chase boats, crewed by ex-Royal Marines, were lifted by a crane and set into the water. Micah Busianis and another member of the French team volunteered to be guinea pigs for the first windsurfer launch and recovery test aboard the KK. Launching was easy as boards and rigs were dropped into the water from the back of the ship, and racers jumped in after them. Recovery however, took a bit more effort as boards and sails had to be hauled up the side, and racers climbed up a ladder.

Two mini-races involving all sailors were also conducted to allow all sailors the chance to launch and return to the boat. The 4-knot winds didn't permit much sailing, but the varied methods of launching racers and gear provided great entertainment. Dave Weiss did a swan dive which was imediately upstaged by Robert Territeau with a backward somersault. A dive that could have easily earned high marks at the Olympics.

Anders Brigdal spent the day recovering from the flu, and didn't participate in the testing.

Racers also tested their safety systems, which fit nicely into a custom life jackets. Each vest holds the radio box (racers will wear waterproof earhones and microphones), a flare, a 2-liter water bottle, an EPIRB (an emergency radio becon) as well as a miniture pack that turns into a mylar kite to help locate the down sailor.

By 1700 the procedures have been tested and equipment adjusted, the KK began steaming east across the Atlantic in preparation for tomorrow's official race that will begin around 9:15 (7:15 EST). All participants will start the day with a 5:30 am wake-up call. The race committe will meet to decide on race conditions for the day, and briefings will be held for racers and chase boat crew at 6:30am. First launch will be at 8:00am.